I agree, but the other Protectors are not Spanish either and to some extent I think the SRF have kept their distance from the Spanish aristocracy since returning to the throne in 1975. Albert II is certainly the most high profile of the current group of protectors.

Prince Albert's godmother was HM Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, grandmother of King Juan Carlos. Sofia was still just a Greek princess when Albert was born in 1958.
Not sure if there is any real role here. If you look at the other protectors they include the Duke of Braganza, a Prussian prince, an Austrian Archduke and the Prince of Naples.

Prince Albert will make a working visit to Paris on Friday, here's the press release:

Quote:

H.S.H. Prince Albert II will meet Mr François Hollande, President of the French Republic at the Elysée Palace on Friday, 7th December 2012, as part of a working visit to the French capital.

At the meeting and working lunch, the two Heads of State will have the opportunity to discuss the quality of the Franco-Monegasque relationship and conduct an overview of the many topics of mutual interest that illustrate the excellent relations between both countries.

Prince Albert has attended the Doha UN Climate Change Conference in Qatar today, December 6, 2012 and has met with Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

The Pangaea Expedition team returned to Monaco yesterday, December 13, 2012. Prince Albert met the South African sailor Mike Horn on the sailing boat 'Pangaea', after a four year eco adventure around the world, at the Monaco Yacht Club.

On December 20, 2012, Prince Albert attended the launching of the event Only Watch 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. Only Watch is a major international charity project sponsored by the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (Monegasque Association against Myopathies). Introduced in 2005, this biennial event is staged in Monaco.

On December 15 Prince Albert attended the Monte Carlo Christmas ball at the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco. The event raised 40000 Euro for Monaco Aide et Présence (MAP) that helps impoverished communities all over the world.